City News

Public Works

City Vacuum Leaf Collection Program Ending March 13, 2023

RICHMOND, Va. – City residents who still need vacuum leaf removal must request the service by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 13. No requests will be accepted after that date. Service requests currently in the system and those made by the deadline will be honored. Vacuum service requests can be made online at https://www.rva311.com or by calling 3-1-1.


Residents have the option of paying the $30 vacuum leaf collection fee by adding it to their utility bill using the RVA 311 system (online or by calling 3-1-1) or by mailing a check/money order to the Department of Public Works, Leaf Collection Program, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 704, Richmond, VA 23219. The payment must be received before the collection will be scheduled. If mailing a check/money order, the payment must be received by the March 13 deadline.

Vacuum Leaf Collection Reminders:

  • Leaves must be raked and ready for pickup at the time of the request
  • Rake leaves to the property line (front or side) but not in the street
    •  Do not block ditches, gutters or the street
  • Remove any sticks, stones or other objects that may damage equipment
  • Leaves will not be collected from the alley

 

For more information, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public-works/leaf-collection or email us at askpublicworks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.

Annual Neighborhood Clean-Up Program starts March 11

RICHMOND, Va. – The Department of Public Works (DPW) is committed to providing a clean, safe and healthy environment for Richmond residents. In addition to bi-weekly bulk and brush collections that coincide with the recycling collection schedule, the Neighborhood Clean-Up Program is another service provided to help residents dispose of bulk items.

Residents in each of the designated neighborhood zones across the city will have two additional opportunities during the year to place bulk and brush items out for collection.

The program runs on selected Saturdays starting on March 11 and ending November 18.

DPW crews will collect items curbside and in alleys (wherever trash is normally placed to be collected) from 8 a.m. until noon on the designated Saturdays.

We take everything except:

    • Electronics
    • Construction debris
    • Hazardous waste items and
    • Broken glass

Additionally, all brush must be cut into four foot lengths and bundled

Examples of acceptable items include: furniture, mattresses, tires (four per household) and appliances.

Please see the attached map and the Neighborhood Clean-Up schedule below:

Note: All clean-ups are from 8 a.m. to noon. (rain or shine)

Residents can also use the DPW Service Finder to verify Clean-Up dates for their neighborhood. 

2023 Clean-Up Dates & Schedule:

  • Zone 1 Bellevue/Ginter Park/Washington Park | Clean-Up dates: March 11 & July 22
  • Zone 2 Northside/Highland Park | Clean-Up dates: March 18 & July 29
  • Zone 3 Church Hill/Fulton | Clean-Up dates: March 25 & August 5
  • Zone 4 Newtowne/Carver/Jackson Ward | Clean-Up dates: April 1 & August 12
  • Zone 5 The Fan/Shaffer | Clean-Up dates: April 15 & August 19
  • Zone 6 Museum District | Clean-Up dates: April 22 & August 26
  • Zone 7 Maymont/Byrd Park/Oregon Hill/Carillon | Clean-Up dates: April 29 & Sept 9
  • Zone 8 Bellemeade | Clean-Up dates: May 6 & September 16
  • Zone 9 Westover Hills/Forest Hill/Woodland Heights | Clean-Up dates: May 13 & Sept 23
  • Zone 10 Broad Rock/Brookbury | Clean-Up dates: May 20 & September 30
  • Zone 11 Worthington Farms | Clean-Up dates: June 3 & October 14
  • Zone 12 Westover Gardens | Clean-Up dates: June 10 & October 21
  • Zone 13 Stratford Hills/Willow Oaks | Clean-Up dates: June 24 & October 28
  • Zone 14 Windsor Farms/University of Richmond/Far West End |Clean-Up dates: July 1 & Nov 4
  • Zone 15 Stony Point | Clean-Up dates: July 15 & November 18

For more information, go to https://www.rva.gov/public-works/neighborhoodcleanups or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov or call 804-646-8325.

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.

City Awarded $8,859,934 Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant

 RICHMOND, VA. – The Department of Public Works has been awarded an $8,859,934 Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program (VHSIP) grant by Commonwealth Transportation Board action to provide safety improvements throughout the City. The city is dedicated to creating safer streets for every road user regardless of age or ability. The grant (comprised of 100% federal grant funding with no required matching funds from the city), will focus on the following systemic safety improvements at intersections:

  1. High Visibility Traffic Signal Backplates
  2. High Visibility Crosswalks
  3. Flashing Yellow Arrows for turning movements
  4. Left Turn Hardening
  5. Regulatory Signs
  6. Warning Signs
  7. Intersection Pavement Markings

Additional details | the Department plans to install the following safety improvements throughout the City of Richmond:

  • Up to 772 high visibility signal backplates (HVSB) at 277 signal controlled intersections
  • Up to 338 high visibility crosswalks at 131 signal controlled intersections
  • Up to 255 flashing yellow arrow signal heads at 81 signalized intersections. 
  • Up to 200 stop-controlled intersections will have new regulatory and warning signs as well as pavement markings for stop lines and corner clearance marks
  • Up to 10 intersections with left turn hardening measures

The planned safety improvements are either on the City’s High Injury Street Network, within a pedestrian safety action plan corridor or within an underserved community.

Over the next year, a standard project agreement between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the City of Richmond will go before City Council for review and approval. Funding is provided for fiscal year 2025, which starts July 1, 2024.

The Department of Public Works appreciates the partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and VDOT to further its Vision Zero objectives through its Highway Safety Improvement grant program. Additionally, the Vision Zero Task Force would like to thank Richmond’s Safe and Healthy Streets Commission for their partnership to seek resources for important changes to the built environment to shift our safety culture.   

For more information on Vision Zero, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public‐works/vison-zero or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW‐related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.

The City of Richmond, Virginia, in 1966, codified one of the oldest continuously operating transportation safety commissions in North America - The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC). Since its inception, the SHSC has advised the Richmond City Council on all transportation safety matters. The SHSC has a diverse membership and includes citizens, transportation safety professionals, a city council member, the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works, the Superintendent of Schools, and the City Transportation Engineer.

The SHSC sets annual priorities focused on executive, legislative, budgetary, and cultural changes. These priorities work towards the Richmond City Council’s 2016 goal, backed by Mayor Stoney, to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to ZERO by 2030. The SHSC’s annual priorities reflect the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the Safe System approach (SSA), and Complete Streets policies. The SHSC adopted the twelve strategies and five supplemental planning needs, based on their set annual priorities, to improve Richmond’s built environment and strengthen the culture of safety. With its high-functioning Vision Zero organizational structure, Richmond is well positioned to implement these projects and supplemental planning activities that showcase the impact of the SSA using proven safety countermeasures and low-cost, high-impact strategies.

The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC) adopted Richmond’s Vision Zero Action Plan in 2018, and is charged with monitoring and reporting progress on the Action Plan. The Mayor and the SHSC established a Vision Zero Task Force, made up of City department leaders, charged with implementing the strategies, projects, and policies set out in the Action Plan.

City Awarded $762,400 Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant

~ Funding to support Vision Zero safety initiatives and projects creating safer streets for all ~                  

RICHMOND, VA. – The Department of Public Works has been awarded a $762,400 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to provide safety improvements throughout the City. When a resident of Richmond leaves their home - they should arrive to their destination safely. Commuters, visitors, and guests deserve the same. Between 2019 and 2021, 44 lives were lost as they traveled on Richmond's City streets. This is unacceptable. The city is dedicated to creating safer streets for every road user regardless of age or ability. The $953,000 grant (comprised of federal grant funding of $762,400 and $190,600 matching funds from the city), will focus on the following Five Safety Planning Initiatives:

  1. Better managing speed
  2. Improving accessible routes for people of all ages and abilities
  3. Creating a comprehensive street light management plan
  4. Screening and assessing people with mental health and substance use disorders to connect them to available services, and
  5. Conducting roadway safety assessments using a multi-disciplined approach. 

Additional details include:

  • Speed Management Plan
    • In 2022, the City recommended the installation of 20 speed safety cameras in 10 school zone locations. These are the City’s first automated speed enforcement cameras, and the City is committed to ensuring equitable delivery of this innovative technology. This proposed budget will fund follow-up stakeholder engagement and collaboration in support of the equitable roll-out of the automated speed enforcement program in Richmond. This will include engagement strategies recommended by the 2022 Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.

  • ADA Transition Plan
    • In 2021, the City successfully conducted an ADA Audit in the downtown area. This budget will expand the City’s ability to conduct ADA Audits by focusing along the HIN and within HDC tracts.

  • Lighting Management Plan
    • Enhanced lighting is one of the safety planning goals enumerated in the Vision Zero Action Plan. The SS4A grant will fund a citywide lighting management plan that will use a data driven approach to create an implementation plan and identify areas that need safety, security, and access pedestrian lighting upgrades.

  • High-Risk Impaired Driver Action Plan
    • In 2022, the City completed a High-Risk Impaired Driver Action Plan that focuses on addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with high-risk impaired drivers. The City, alongside the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, will use the SS4A grant funds to act on recommendations from that plan, including pilot programming that addresses upstream mental and behavioral health issues through patient screening and assessment to address substance use disorders prior to a KA crash through appropriate treatments and supervision. The plan will improve street safety for all road users - especially the most vulnerable road users.

  • HIN Roadway Safety Assessments (RSAs)
    • FHWA encourages RSAs as a proactive approach to create safer streets. RSAs are an important element of the City’s Vision Zero Program and will be used to evaluate short, mid-, and long term solutions along high priority, high-risk roadways along the HIN and HDC tracts. RSAs are also a useful tool in taking a multidisciplinary approach to identify opportunities for future safety improvements for all road users.

Over the next year, a standard project agreement between the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the City of Richmond will come before City Council for review and approval.

The Department of Public Works appreciates the partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, the Volpe Center, and the USDOT to further its Vision Zero objectives through its Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program.  Additionally, the Vision Zero Task Force would like to thank the following organizations who supported Richmond’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant application as well as all the other supporters who are involved in changing our built environment to shift our safety culture:

  • AAA Mid-Atlantic
  • Capital Area Partnership
  • Complete Streets Richmond Coalition
  • Drive Smart Virginia
  • Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
  • Mayor Levar M. Stoney
  • Resources for Independent Living
  • Richmond Ambulance Authority
  • Richmond City Council
  • Richmond City Health District
  • Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization
  • Safe and Healthy Streets Commission
  • Sportable
  • Sports Backers
  • State Delegate Betsy B. Carr
  • State Delegate Jeffrey M. Bourne
  • State Delegate Dawn M. Adams
  • State Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi
  • US Congressman A. Donald McEachin (posthumously)
  • US Senator Mark R. Warner
  • US Senator Timothy M. Kaine
  • VCU Health Systems
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Virginia Department of Transportation

For more information on Vision Zero, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public‐works/vison-zero or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW‐related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

###

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1.

The City of Richmond, Virginia, in 1966, codified one of the oldest continuously operating transportation safety commissions in North America - The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC). Since its inception, the SHSC has advised the Richmond City Council on all transportation safety matters. The SHSC has a diverse membership and includes citizens, transportation safety professionals, a city council member, the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works, the Superintendent of Schools, and the City Transportation Engineer.

The SHSC sets annual priorities focused on executive, legislative, budgetary, and cultural changes. These priorities work towards the Richmond City Council’s 2016 goal, backed by Mayor Stoney, to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to ZERO by 2030. The SHSC’s annual priorities reflect the City’s commitment to Vision Zero, the Safe System approach (SSA), and Complete Streets policies. The SHSC adopted the twelve strategies and five supplemental planning needs, based on their set annual priorities, to improve Richmond’s built environment and strengthen the culture of safety. With its high-functioning Vision Zero organizational structure, Richmond is well positioned to implement these projects and supplemental planning activities that showcase the impact of the SSA using proven safety countermeasures and low-cost, high-impact strategies.

The Safe and Healthy Streets Commission (SHSC) adopted Richmond’s Vision Zero Action Plan in 2018, and is charged with monitoring and reporting progress on the Action Plan. The Mayor and the SHSC established a Vision Zero Task Force, made up of City department leaders, charged with implementing the strategies, projects, and policies set out in the Action Plan.

City Seeking Community Feedback for Newly Proposed Bike Lanes - Survey Available Feb. 9 - 28

~ Online survey available February 9 - 28 ~                  

RICHMOND, VA.The Department of Public Works (DPW) has identified State Route 161 (SR 161) for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure via two phases for north and south sides of the James River. City residents will have an opportunity to review the proposed conceptual designs and provide feedback for bike lanes designated along the SR 161 corridor. The scope of work for each phase includes:

  • PHASE I:
    • Roadway bicycle improvements on Westover Hills Boulevard (SR 161) begin just south of the Boulevard Toll Bridge and run south to the intersection with Dunston Avenue/49th Street.
    • This segment/phase will also propose pedestrian and bicycle improvements along 49th Street beginning at the Duston Avenue/Westover Hills Boulevard intersection and running south to the cul-de-sac at the  Hill Top Drive intersection.

  • PHASE II:
    • On-roadway bicycle improvements along Park Drive and Blanton Avenue (SR 161) begin at Pump House Drive and run north to the French Street intersection.
    • This phase will also include improved pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Blanton Ave and Park Drive.

Feedback is needed to help finalize the designs. To review the project materials and comment on the conceptual design for each corridor, please go to www.rva.gov/public-works/pedestrian-bicycling-and-trails and complete the online survey by February 28.

These bike lane projects will enhance our transportation infrastructure and improve safety for all roadway users. They are an important part of the City’s commitment to Vision Zero and support the Better Streets multimodal approach by implementing safety improvements such as high‐visibility crosswalks for people who walk, accessible curb ramps for people who roll, and dedicated space for people to bike or scoot.

For more project details or if you need assistance with alternative means to review and comment, contact Afshin Famili at 804‐646‐6334 or email Afshin.Famili@rva.gov

For more information on Public Works, please visit us online at https://www.rva.gov/public‐works or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW‐related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

Or search using "Type it, find it" above